Author: News-Press NOW

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Health Department held its free walk-in flu vaccine clinic Thursday.

While the city-wide clinic held at Civic Arena was a one-day event, vaccines for both insured and uninsured patients will still be accessible at the St. Joseph Health Department. They will be available 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except the last Friday of the month.

According to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, there have been 61 cases of influenza within the state as of this week.

In talking to St. Joseph Community Health Nurse, Kristi Billings, Buchanan County has only had 11 cases this year.

“This year we didn’t really see the break,” Billings said. “We normally see, from year to year, some downtime where we don’t see flu cases. And this year, there was a very limited amount of downtime where we didn’t see flu cases. I believe when I looked that we had already had 11 so far.”

For more information on Flu Vaccines offered by the Health Department, visit its website at www.stjosephmo.gov/486/Immunizations.

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — October is here, and there’s no shortage of ways to get out and enjoy the weekend. Whether you’re in the mood for shopping, live theatre or fall fun, it’s time to See St. Joseph.

First up, the St. Joseph Civic Arena is hosting “It’s All About You!” Women’s Expo this Saturday, Oct. 4. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the expo will feature workshops, seminars, shopping, food trucks and even a mimosa and bloody mary bar. Tickets are $7, or $5 with a canned food donation to Second Harvest. For ages 16 and under, admission is free. The event is all about celebrating women’s health, wellness, and community.

Also on Saturday night, the Trail Theatre presents a live performance of ’12 Angry Men’. The show begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free; however, donations will benefit Pivotal Point Transitional Housing. Organizers said it’s a chance to enjoy a timeless story while supporting a local cause that helps families break the cycle of homelessness.

Of course, it wouldn’t be October in St. Joseph without PumpkinFest. The three-day festival runs Friday through Sunday at the Pony Express Museum and Patee Park. Families can enjoy live entertainment, food trucks, costume contests and the lighting of Pumpkin Mountain at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Kids will love the parade, petting zoo and free baby pumpkins in the children’s tent.

Make sure you tune in every Thursday for more ways to See St. Joseph.

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News-Press NOW

DEKALB COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Cameron, Missouri, man is dead after a one-car crash near that town Wednesday morning.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 9:08 a.m. on U.S. Route 36, a mile west of Cameron.

A 28-year-old Cameron man driving east lost control, skidded and traveled off the road, flipping his car.

He was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected.

He was pronounced deceased at Mosaic Life Care at 10:07 a.m., according to the crash report.

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Ryan Eslinger

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) — Week six of the high school football season is here, and Sports Zone’s game of the week is the 1-4 Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles hosting the 1-4 Kansas City East Academy Christian Lions.

After a 10-2 season that fell just short for the Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles last year, the Golden Eagles have not gotten out to a great start in 2025.

The 1-4 start for the Golden Eagles is their worst start since the 2020-21 season, when they started 0-4, but the record does not tell the full story.

In the five games the Golden Eagles have played, the combined records of the teams are 17-3, and head coach Chuck Davis said the team had to weather the storm to prepare themselves for districts.

“The mindset is we’re not playing for right now, we’re playing for that first week at districts,” Davis said. “We got a good group of smart kids that see the big picture.”

While playing the top talent in the state of Missouri, Senior defensive back Cole Sigrist said the losses will make them better in the long run.

“When you see the best quarterback in the state at Archie, it really prepares you mentally and physically for what you’re going to see later on,” Sigrist said.

Senior running back David Aberer said the key to getting the offense jump-started starts with everyone doing their job.

“Focusing on every play, everybody needs to do their job,” Aberer said. “All the linemen, they need to block, everyone catch balls, don’t throw bad balls. Stuff like that.”

Despite the 1-4 record, the team has still been competitive, and coach Davis said the goal is to play a complete game every game.

“In order to be successful, we have to take what we’ve learned these first five weeks and put it together in one complete game,” Davis said. “At times we’ve looked very good and we need to play like that all the time.”

After graduating a lot of key players in May, and only having eleven seniors on the roster, Davis said the team is relying on a lot of the younger guys, who are one year away from being something special.

Aberer and Sigrist are the leaders of the offense and defense, and touched on how they have stepped into leadership roles with the younger guys on the team.

“Pointing out what they are doing wrong and teaching them what to do better next time,” Aberer said. “It’s not going to be right every time.”

“The leaders from years prior have shown me how to be a leader and what it takes to be a leader,” Sigrist said. “There are still some growing pains, but we’ve seen a lot of improvement over these last five weeks.”

This game is hopefully the turning point for Chuck Davis’ squad as they look to use the next four weeks to prepare for districts.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at Bishop LeBlond High School.

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Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With cooler weather moving in, copperhead snakes are preparing for hibernation.

The weather causes the snakes to be more active around local parks and trails such as River Bluff Trails Park.

When using the local trails during this time of year, there are a few things to keep in mind. Copperhead snakes typically have a gray or copper color to them and an hourglass-like pattern on their skin.

These snakes also blend in very well with fallen leaves on the ground. 

“It would just be advisable to recognize that they are there and use caution. Don’t assume. Don’t step over logs without knowing where you are putting your feet. And just take your time and have your eyes open and pay attention,” said Shelly Cox, a naturalist at the Remington Nature Center.

According to Cox, copperhead snakes in the area will be heading into hibernation toward the end of October until springtime.  

Copperhead snakes are also venomous. According to Poison Control, their bites can cause pain, swelling, redness, bruising and blistering, as well as systemic symptoms like low blood pressure.

If a bite occurs, stay calm, immobilize the bite area and seek help from experts.

To decrease the likelihood of copperheads on property, remove leaves, rocks, trash and other debris. Additionally, removing tall vegetation will also decrease their presence on property.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Community Chorus is preparing to open its 45th Anniversary Season.

The season will begin with a performance of Joseph Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, at St. James Catholic Church, located at 5814 King Hill Ave.

The concert will feature the 65-voice chorus joined by a full orchestra under the direction of Timothy Tharaldson.

Written in 1798 during a time of political upheaval, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass is considered one of his most dramatic and triumphant choral works, blending moments of solemnity with choruses of hope and praise.

The concert will showcase four guest soloists. Tickets are available at the door or online at www.stjoechorus.org/tickets.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The YWCA will honor victims and survivors of domestic violence during its annual “Hear my Voice” event to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The event is to remember victims and survivors of domestic violence and will include the winner of the 2025 Mary Jolly Memorial Award, which recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding service to victims and survivors of domestic violence.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.

The event started with the showcase of artwork done by community in St. Joseph. Followed by emotional stories, songs and poetry. Then the announcement of the 2025 Molly Jolly Award.

This year the award was won by Sergeant Tami Parsons of the Buchanan County sheriffs office and Natalie Maupin from Mosaic Life Care.

The event ended with a prayer and a moment of silence for victims of domestic violence.

Danielle Brown, YWCA chief executive officer said its important to have events during domestic violence awareness month.

“We want to make sure that if you are a survivor, if you are someone who’s experienced this trauma, that you can come forward,” she said.

Brown said domestic violence month is important to get the word out to everyone.

“But we really want to make sure that people know not only that we’re here, but that everybody’s here for them and that, you know, you don’t have to continue down the same cycle,” Brown said. “You can make a difference and even more that everybody can make a difference by listening,” she said.

Every Thursday the YWCA will wear purple in support of domestic violence awareness month.

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Payton Counts

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Harvest season is underway, at least for some crops.  Harvest season marks the time when mature crops are gathered from the fields, but timing varies.

Wheat is typically harvested between June and August in North America, while corn and soybeans are harvested from September through November.

When it comes to crops, Missouri is known for soybeans and corn. USDA’s 2024 state agriculture overview, Missouri farmers harvested 5.8 million acres of soybeans and 3.3 million acres of corn. 

Across the river, Kansas harvested about 5.8 million acres of corn last year, outpacing Missouri.

Reaching harvest isn’t easy. Farmers face challenges such as weather, equipment costs, economic pressure and the natural stages of crop growth. 

Too much or too little rain, poor soil moisture or equipment failures can all threaten yields— the amount of a crop grown per unit area of land.

Connie Fischer, Kansas Corn’s Director of Innovation and Commercialization, said weather will always play a role.

“You can be the best planner,” Fischer said. “But the weather will still dictate how you are going to do for the year.”

When it comes to actually comes to harvesting, farmers prefer dry conditions.

“It’s good for us because the ground’s firm,” said Tyler Schwader, a self-employed farmer. “We’re not making any compaction or ruts. We’re not held up … it just keeps chugging along.”

When harvests fall short, the impacts can be significant. For farmers, it means smaller profits. On a larger scale, cattle producers may have to pay more for feed and ethanol prices could rise as well.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph residents will be able to get rid of unwanted items and yard waste.

The Clean Sweep Program allows trash to be taken to the landfill free of charge from Oct. 1 to Oct. 7. Among the acceptable items that can be dropped off are tires (limited to six passenger tires), yard waste and general trash.

With the past spring’s Clean Sweep being cancelled, the city will be allowing anyone to use the two allotted days during the Fall period. The city does expects additional levels of waste, but standard rules and regulations will still apply. 

“At this point with the new cell we still have a lot of space, but it’s limited by the amount of traffic coming in and out,” Deputy Director of Operations Public Kevin Schneider said. “The road going in is a two-way road. Once it gets filled with cars, people are going to have to wait.”

The Landfill will be open to drop items off from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, located at 9431 S.E. 50th Road.

A separate collection for household hazardous waste and electronics will also be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, outside Remington Nature Center at 1502 MacArthur Drive.

For more information on clean sweep rules, visit www.stjosephmo.gov

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri Western State University is mourning the loss and remembering its very first president, Marvin O. Looney. 

Looney grew up in southwest Missouri and graduated from Missouri State University before starting his teaching career at Gainesville High School.  

Looney earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1961 and after stops at the University of Central Missouri, Kellogg Community College and Mahoning Community College, Looney was named president of what was then Missouri Western Junior College in 1967.

Even after retiring from MoWest in 1983, Looney stayed active in education—serving at the University of Alaska Anchorage and later spent eight years as chancellor at Missouri State University–West Plains.  

“Students thought he was a president interested in their success and wanted to provide the best high-quality education that he can to everyone and wanted to also keep it affordable so everyone can access it,” said MoWest President, Elizabeth Kennedy.

Kennedy said the work he did at MoWest helped set the university on the path to becoming what it is today for the St. Joseph community.  

She also said Looney inspired people in the 60s and 70s, when the university looked very different from what it does today.  

“It was a different place. You had different populations and a force within the community that valued education and he was working to move it to a new location to build a campus and to eventually more it to a four-year university,” Kennedy said.  

MoWest alum Zack Workman said he didn’t know Looney personally as a student, but later came to realize the impact of his contributions to the community.  

He said Looney’s charisma and genuine care for students earned him a special place in people’s hearts  

“He was a gentleman who I think could probably sit down with you and talk and he never wore a hat of a president and while you were talking to him, you felt like he was a community member,” Workman said.   

Workman said Looney was always out talking with people in the community, listening to what was going on so he could find ways to make things better for everyone.  

“He was always there supporting coaches and speaking with parents and it felt like a team because he was a total package,” Workman said.  

Now, community members hope Looney’s legacy will live on, inspiring future generations with the same dedication and vision that made MoWest what it is today. 

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